As reported by Sky News, it reads: "During the past 18 days since March 8, when Malaysia Airlines announced that it had lost contact with MH370, Malaysia Airlines, the government of Malaysia, and the military forces of Malaysia have concealed, delayed and hidden the truth from the relatives and the people of the world.

"This despicable act aimed to fool the relatives of the 154 Chinese passengers has devastated us physically and mentally, while misleading and delaying the rescue operation, wasting a lot of manpower, material resources and leading to the loss of precious rescue time.

"If the 154 of our loved ones have lost their lives, then Malaysia Airlines, the government of Malaysia and the military are really the executors."

At an emergency press conference today, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that it is "with deep sadness and regret" that new data shows the flight "ended in the southern Indian Ocean".

He also said everybody on board is presumed dead.

Getty Images

Missing: This satellite image shows a map of the search area

Families were left heartbroken after having their worst fears confirmed by a text message from Malaysia Airlines saying 'nobody survived'.

Relatives of the 239 passengers and crew could be heard screaming and shouting after being told the plane went down in the Indian Ocean.

Paramedics were sent in to try and comfort the devastated families, who are being offered flights to Australia, where searches will continue.

Malaysia Airlines sent this text message to relatives: "Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived.

"As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia's Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean."

Malaysia Airlines later added in a statement: "Malaysia Airlines did not ONLY send an SMS.

"The message was conveyed to all families face to face by our top management at the hotels.

Reuters

Upsetting: Relatives of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines MH370 cry after watching a television broadcast of a news conference

"SMS and phone calls were made to those who are not in the hotels via our family support centre.

"We wanted to ensure that families are informed via all channels."

The new information came after further tests of data by British-based satellite company Inmarsat, which concluded that MH370 crashed into the sea, thousands of miles off course.

It wasn't close to any possible landing sites, said the PM, and was in the southern Indian Ocean to the west of Perth.

Investigators are still searching for any debris from wreckage and, crucially, the black box.

Razak said families had been informed of the latest developments by Malaysia Airlines.

He said: "The last two weeks have been heartbreaking. This news must be harder still."

There will be a further press conference tomorrow with more details, he added, from the press conference held in Kuala Lumpur.